With reference to the latest pollution figures released for the Brighton area (The Argus, November 9), I find it amazing that the motorist is again being blamed for the high nitrogen dioxide levels in the North Street and Western Road areas.

Correct me if I'm wrong but these areas have been designated bus and taxis only and have been so for some considerable time.

When will the people responsible for the city's transport system admit that for the past few years the aim has been to justify the introduction of congestion charging. It's not about pollution it's about money.

I have watched in frustration as our city's roads have been brought to a gradual standstill, not by the volume of traffic but by the mismanagement of the road systems. The phasing of the traffic lights is a sure and subtle way of upsetting the flow of traffic eventually bringing the city to gridlock.

New England Hill is a classic example of traffic light mismanagement. It is not uncommon for the journey from the seven dials to Preston Circus to take 25 minutes because of just two sets of lights. Is it any wonder that pollution levels are high in this area? It is common knowledge that a vehicle emits more pollution when it is stationary.

Whatever happened to the infra-red sensors on the lights which are designed to detect the build up of traffic and phase the lights accordingly.

The ongoing water main works are again another example of poor traffic management, a simple rephasing of the lights outside the Metropole and in West Street, another area named in the air pollution survey, would help the traffic to flow and ease the pollution.

Can anyone explain where the £35 million to improve the public transport in the city has been spent? As a taxpayer I would like to know where my money has gone.

The city has expanded in every way attracting more people, more housing and therefore more traffic, yet the infrastructure has remained the same and is creaking under the strain.

Where are the billions of pounds gone that have been raised on the back of the motorist? Certainly not on the road system. There are certain politicians that don't want the car, they just want the revenue it produces.

  • Steve Kennard, Burnham Close Woodingdean